Working knife steel

H

Howard Faltz

Joined
Sep 16, 1999
Messages
71
One of the knives I carry daily is a small Dale Strickland 3-finger skinner with a unique shape and a Chris Peterson damascus flat ground blade. Cuts well, stays sharp, and sharpens easily. I often carry a Chris Reeve Aviator. The A-2 is wonderful. This is my abused child. It never quits. Sharpened with a few ceramic stick strokes after
over one year of abuse. As makers and users, what are your favorite steels. Remember, tasks are different. There are no right or wrong answers.

------------------
Howard A. Faltz, Owner
Arizona Knife Source
"Keep it Sharp"
Luke 22:26
www.azknife.com
 
I do not own a talonite knife yet. So I have to put a vote in for D-2.
1084, 5160 and W-2 are the others that I have used and have liked.
 
I really dont have a "favorite" steel. I think most steels out there, given good edge and blade geometry and proper heat treatment will perform very well.

As a new maker i like to use any of the 10 series steels...1075, 1084,1095. They are not expensive, they are readily available, they perform very well given you do your part as a maker. I also like the fact that i can heat treat them myself. 1095 is cool becuase you can get a temper line without even trying! I guess becuase it requires such a fast quinch???

Any how, I am looking forward to using some CPM 3V in the near future, I will have to send it out for treatment but i hear it is a great steel.

Ive had good luck with 0-1 also.

Unlike many carbon steel fans, i dont like 5160 much. I cant get that super aggressive edge like i can with 0-1 or say 1095, but that is probably just me.

 
Sorry guys but you asked ,
I like 440-C because it has it all I like the corrosion resistance, impact resistance,and edge retention as well as sharpenability for pocket knives. Don't get me wrong iI like the exotics too especialy that Talonite stuff it cuts like a son of a bitch feels self lubricated .I guess if cost wern't an issue I would go for it or 420-V
As far as fixed bladed knives for abuse I really like D-2 major impact resistant,wear resistant and stays sharp too just don't finnish well really tough though.
Exhibition grade stuff besides damascus I like BG-42 finnishes really nice and seems to be really pure,not any better edge retention than 440-C/ ATS-34 though.(just my opinion now don't get so defensive)
And lastly I love a good forged big knife or sword 52100, 1095, L6, W2, any of the above as long as it is heat treated properly .
As we all know you can take a great piece of steel and put a lousey heat treat on it and it won't perform .Or you can take a descent piece of steel and put an excellent heat treat on it and it will preform quite well. It all depends on the heat treat.
Just my 2 cents
Aloha!!! KEN ONION
 
Cool Guys Use what they like. And now that you ask I use 440C, and ATS-34 both in fixed and folding blades. But then I've also been known to use a little 52100 at times. I have to agree with Ken it all comes down to the heat treat. And since I do all of my own heat treating and sub-zero quenching I know what I am putting into my blades. I also like to use a good bit of Damascus in both my fixed blades as well as my folders. I try to random test blades at various times after heat treating. I like to push my blades especial my field blades, so after I do my hardening, tempreing, sub-zero quench, and two more temperings I like to put an edge on it and see if it will go through a 2X4 pine and then shave. I know that I got it right if I have no flakes,chips or curled edges. The way I see it to each his own. And, yes I have used D2 but I dont like it because I can't get the finish on it that I really want. The steel may or maynot be to someones choosing but that is what it's all about, someone choosing a blade that he/she can be happy with and use knowing that it will be the tool that it was ment to be.

------------------
Curtis Wilson -
Wilson's Custom Knives, Engraving, and Scrimshaw
 
Now, why don't makers, when asked, "what kind of steel is this?" by a potential customer respond with not only the metal, but the heat
treat as well? As a dealer I only know a handful of makers that regularly do this. I agree and I know that in MOST cases the customer asks in order to sound knowledgable
to the maker. But, shouldn't the maker give FULL disclosure? "Gee, good thing you asked, on these knives, I forgot to have them heat treated, and over here, these have been annealed, But there at a great price and will look great in any display case."


[This message has been edited by Howard Faltz (edited 29 September 1999).]
 
I've had excellent results with my D2 & M2 knives... very tough, very sharp, hold their edges for a long time... easy maintenance.

AJ
 
I don't really have a favorite steel, though I tend to prefer tool steels to either stainless or simple carbon steels.

The blade of my favorite working knife is Boye Dendritic Steel (cast 440C). It holds an edge on a par with tool steels (Boye claims better), is reasonably tough, sharpens quickly, and it is very stain resistant. Great stuff.

Harv
 
Ken: Yes, I've said it over and over myself. My favorite steel is the one that's been optimally heat treated. Period. This is still the most overlooked aspect in custom knives, IMHO, both by makers and customers.
Once you have the heat treatment down perfect, the favorite steel is really driven by requirements of the finished knife. A2 is ideal for the "zero-thickness" chisel grind, BG42 for the highly finished, scary sharp worker/showcase piece. CPM420V and 440V for blades that need a long lasting edge, and CPM3V for the ultra durable working knife. D2 makes a nice working knife, too. Talonite is nice stuff too, and seems to fit the bill for small, maintenance free knives.
10 years ago, I used only one blade material. Now, I have 12 different alloys, use them all, and still keep my eye open for the "next best" thing.

RJ Martin
 
Iforge 5160 for most blades as it is tough and easy to sharpen.Love 1095 good edge holding but harder to sharpen for people who have a hard time sharpening.best all around for deer hunters and limb whackers is the old L6 saw blade steel,looks great in damascus to.Just my opinion

------------------
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top